Jewelry chain



SGP@ l2 1939. v. 1'. suRRows 2,172,525

Y JEWELRY CHAIN.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Filed may 27, 1958 ,70 g3 Z4 9 ,Z3/1013 2.9 4

INVENTOR.

sept. 12,' 1939.

V. T. SURROWS JEIELM CHAIN Filed May 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rss Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNI TED S TATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to jewelry, and is herein illustrated as embodied in a bracelet which may be altered at will without using any special-or other tools and without the need of going to an expert craftsman.

Chain or link bracelets, and other analogous jewelry as hitherto made, have usually required adjusting by skilled craftsmen for length, to fit the wrist of the individual and for other pur'- poses. One purpose, for example, was to provide a bracelet which carried on its individual links the letters which made up the owners name or the owners initials. Another adjustment which was often desired, but which also required the services of a skilled craftsman, was the conversion of a bracelet into a necklace.

Such devices as may hitherto have been attempted to be used for such purposes with a View to eliminating the necessity of employing the services of a skilled craftsman, seem not to have met the requirements of commercial limitations. Apparently their designs were such that they could not be made rugged enough to meet the strains of practical use without being cumbersome, or were not dependably secure when assembled, were not sufficiently comfortable to wear, or were too complicatedfin construction or had loose and easily lost parts, or required'special separate tools for their adjustment, or were otherwise impractical.

According to the present invention these and other diihculties and objections are overcome and a simple, strong device is provided, cheap to construct, easy to manipulate and adjust as desired by th-e owner himself without tools or "a jewelers assistance, with ready exiblity in several directions, and of self contained individually complete units which may be made of precious or other metals or materials and assembledor dissembled by almost any user, to comprise a variety of bracelets, necklaces, anklets, belts, watch chains, etc.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 shows fragmentarily one form of bracelet embodying the presentinvention.

Figure 2 shows fragmentarily-how that form may be further adjusted to form a necklace.

Figure 3 shows a small portion yon'a larger scale.

Figure 4 shows the same parts inside view partly in section, on line d-Il of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective'view of a catch.

f the flap-I8 and with extensionsZS which Figure 64 is aTaCevieW-Ofpart of a modifica- `tion, showing. a modification atvthe ends.

Figure' isan edgeviewof the same.

'Figure 8 shows thetwo parts of Figure '7 locked together.

yFigure 9 is a 'face view cfa modiiication.

.Figure 10 is a sidefviewof the same, partly in section.

The bracelet illustrated inFigures lto 5 includes a unit bodyIIl, provided `with two ilaps II 10 and I2, connected tothe bodyA I0 by suitable hinges I3.

In the form shown the unit body I0 is adapted lto be connected at will, through either flap II or I2, to a connecting unit body I4. For this l purpose the body flaps II and IZ-are each shown as provided with slots AI5 which are shown as adapted to be engaged by headed lugs I6 on aps I'l andA I 8,whch are shown as like the aps II and I2, and are also shown as kconnected by hinges20 Y I 3a tothe connecting unit body I4.

In the formshown the slots I5 are formed with enlarged ends 20 toward the body Ill-and with narrower extensions 2| extending outwardly, sothat the enlarged heads 22 of lugs I S may slide through the ropenings'2il which `they nt rather closely,and then the narrowerround Shanks 24 ymay slide out toward the .narrower ends 2| of the slots, thus, when locked-in this position in the manner hereinafter made to appear, securely 30 though loosely holding the flaps II and I8, or I2-.and I'I againsteach other.

V`In the Yform shown the lugs I6 are formed with shoulders 25Lwhich are adapted to `rest upon project 35 throughopenings in the ap I8 and arethen headed over at 2'I.on the 'back of the ap.

The enlarged heads '22 preferably vllt fairly loosely, to allow alittleplay, on the surface of the ap II or I2. .40

.To .prevent any accidental Vdisengagement of the flap I'I'from the 'flap I2 which would cause a separation of the unit `and connecting unit,

y there isshown a catch or keeper28 in the form .of `a4 broad spring, strip or blade pivotedon the V45 aps II and I2 by a headed over. lug29 the shank of which29bpasses through a holein the keeper 29o as particularly shown in Figure 4,v so as to lie at on and .be held closely` against the surface of the flap. The keeper 28 is shown ink 0 Figure 5 as adapted tolle with one edge cut away in azposition andshape corresponding to the narrower extensions 2I r.over vwhich the blade of the keeper fits, so that when said keeper is in, .locked:positionit covers the enlargedends .55

. a part 2 20 of the slots I5, with the enlarged heads 22 resting upon the blade of the keeper which in turn rests on the iiap, and the blade of the keeper thus, in this position, holds the lugs I6 in position in the narrower extensions 2I of the slots I5, and prevents them from sliding out of the narrow extensions 2I. The blade of the keeper is shown as provided with a detent 3l lying when in locked position in a depression or hole Sla in the face of the flap Il, and with a small part of its end edge turn-ed down at Sib to iit in cut 3Ic in the flap II, providing an additional hold, and also providing a convenient object for a iinger nail to catch in lifting the catch or keeper to free it.

The flap I2 may be provided with one or more similar slots I5 and a similar keeper 28.

One of the units, such as the connecting unit III may be so built that its flaps I1 and I8 may turn in their own plane as well as on the hinges I3a. For this purpose the unit I4 is shown as built of two parts, an upper part 32 and a lower part 33, pivoted together at 34, and separated a littleby a washer or bearing 35. The upper part 32 may terminate in a curve 35, andthe lower part 33 may terminate in a curve 31 so that each part turns on the other upon the washer or bearing and over a surface protected against scratches and adhering dirt.

In the form shown the curves 36 and 31 form of the outer edges of annular ribs 38, and the opposing face of the adjacent part 32 or 33 is correspondingly ribbed 38a so as to form annular ribs which may take part of the pull of the parts 32 and 33 when the whole bracelet or chain is strained, but which allow free turning of the upper part 32 upon the lower part 33.

When the user desires to arrange the links as a necklace, only one lug I6 of the two on a flap may,

desired, be engaged with its slot I5, as is illustrated in Figure 2, thus making available still more iiexibility in the assembly of units and connecting units.

VAs is seen in Figure 4, the scratching of the ,face of a unit I0 is avoided by turning the flap II down on its hinge I3 so as to carry the catch or keeper 28 free of the surface of the unit I0.

The hinge I3 shown in Figure 3, includes a pintle 40 engaged by integral hollow extensions 4I ofthe units I0 and I4, and the extensions lie within the edges of the units.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 6, '1, and 8 the lugs 56 are shown as having heads 53 elongated transversely of the flaps 5I which carry them by their reduced shanks 52. In the form shown the heads are inserted through correspondingly elongated shaped openings 55 in the upper flaps 54, said openings, except at the ends of a necklace or bracelet, being set at an angle to the normal position of the heads 53, as pictured in the right unit of Figure 6, so that when the bracelet or necklace is assembled the shanks 52 lie at one end 56 of the elongated openings 55. As a result the units cannot become disengaged by any ordinary or probable twisting of the units.

The upper naps 54 are cut away at the corners 51 so they turn without striking the hinges 58, and-the lower aps are similarly cut away.

In the form shown, the heads 53 of the lugs 5I) include enlarged ends 59 with a tangential at line 63 joining them `on one side, thusmaking ythe opening terminate in a correspondingly flat 'line 6I. (Figure 6.)

The end top flap 62 maybe provided with an opening 63 which aligns with its corresponding head 53 on its iiap 5I, and, to prevent accidental disengagement, there may be provided a keeper 28, provided with detent 3I fitting into a hole 3m and with a turned down end 3Ib to nt in a cut 3Ic.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 9 and 10 the units or flaps of units 5I may be identical and may be held together by links 66, preferably elongated.

Each link includes a solid bar 65, bent at each end to pass loosely through openings 66 in the respective units or flaps of units so that the ends 61, 68 of the bar 65 face each other.

The end 61 is hollow for a considerable length and in its hollow 69 slides a bar 16 which seats itself in a shallow opening 1I in the end 68 and is held in that opening by a spring 12 which presses the bar 10 outwardly until both its ends are supported in the openings 69 and 1I, but d the bar 10 may be pressed back by a small thumbpiece 13 to provide an opening which permits the units or aps of units 5I to be passed through the opening and free the plates or catch them together as the case may be.

The two bent bars tend to hold the units or flaps of units 5I, of the necklace or bracelet aligned but free to bend around the wrist or neck.

It will be noted that the unit or other bodies I0 are well adapted to bear different stone, metal:

or other mountings xed to them, or to be inscribed with different figures or letters of the alphabet, thus enabling the owner of the bracelet at will to reassemble units and connecting units,

insert new ones, or to spell out any desired proper;

name or sentiment within the limits of length of the bracelet or necklace chain.

Having thus described certain embodiments of the invention, what I claim is:

1. A chain including units having bodies, a flap on a unit including a slot having a wide opening and a narrow extension, and a iiap on another unit including a lug having an enlarged head adapted to pass through the wide opening but not pass the narrow extension and a shank,

adapted to permit the lug to slide well within the narrow extension so that the head holds the links together.

2. A chain including a unit having a body, a

flap on a unit including a slot having a wide'- opening and a narrow extension, another link having a lug with an enlarged head adapted to p-ass through the wide opening but not pass the narrow extension, a shank for the lug adapted to slide well within the narrow extension so that the head holds the links together when the shank lies in the narrow extension, a second flap on one link, a separate part of that link carrying the second ap, means whereby the link and its part may rotate on each other transverse to the turning on the hinge and a second connecting element on the second flap.

3. A chain including links having bodies, connecting units for the bodies including two pivoted parts adapted to rotate upon each other face to face, and means for detachably attaching each part to an adjacent body so that the bodies may swing relative to each other.

4. A chain including links having bodies, connecting units for the bodies including two pivoted parts adapted to rotate upon each other face to face, a headed lug on each part, and slots in the bodies'having enlarged ends adapted to receive the heads and to hold the bodies by the slots.

5. A chain including links having bodies conySli taining slots, connecting units for the bodies, including two pivoted parts adapted to rotate upon each other face to face, a pair of lugs on each part adapted to t in the slots in the bodies, and heads on the lugs adapted to pass through enlarged openings at the ends of the slots and to grip the bodies at the other parts of the slots.

6. A chain including unit bodies and connecting units, elements movable upon the connecting units to engage openings in the bodies, and keepers adapted to lock the elements against disengagement.

7. A chain connecting unit including a lug adapted to iit an opening in another unit, a head on the lug adapted to pass an enlargement in the opening and to hold at other parts` of the opening, and a spring keeper adapted. to lie against the lug and also engage the body of the unit and positively hold the lug.

8. A chain including links having openings, bodies forming parts of connecting devices for the links, parts connected to the bodies but slidable on the bodies to one position to permit assembling of the chain and slidable to another position to hold the chain assembled.

9. A chain including links having openings, rings having openings and adapted to pass through the link openings to unite links, and

elements connected to the rings adapted to stretch across the ring openings to close them.

l0. A chain including links having openings, rings having openings adapted to pass through the link openings to unite links, and slides sliding on the rings adapted to close their openings.

11. A chain including links having openings, rings having openings adapted to pass through the link openings to unite links, and springpressed slides sliding on the rings adapted to close their openings.

12. A chain including bodies and extensions hinged on the bodies and including openings larger at one part than another, other bodies having hinged extensions, and headed studs on said last named extensions, said heads adapted to pass through said openings at a larger part and to slide along said openings to a smaller part to be held by the extension.

13. A chain including bodies and extensions hinged in the bodies and including openings having one dimension in the direction and another dimension in another, other bodies having hinged extensions, studs thereon, and heads on the studs adapted to pass the openings when held at one angle and to be held against passing when held at another.

VICTOR T. SURROWS. 

